This chapter begins by examining a passage from Hugh of St. Victor's discourse, On the Sacraments of the Christian Faith, which contains linguistic transfers as examples of extension or metonymy. ...
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This chapter begins by examining a passage from Hugh of St. Victor's discourse, On the Sacraments of the Christian Faith, which contains linguistic transfers as examples of extension or metonymy. Hugh confirms the transcendent source of his metonymies and justifies the need for an interpreter, and since God permits the practice of metonymy, the interpreter is only enabled but obliged to declare them. On another note, Abbot Suger combined his religious and political campaigns into one single project: the construction of the Abbey Church of St. Denis. Suger wrote about the construction and treated it as an integral part of the project. The chapter cites these writings and affirms that Suger supports his message by echoing scriptural and sacred authorities. The latter part focuses on Dante's questioning of the problematic relations between fiction and facticity in connection to theological tradition.Less

Sacramental Anxiety in the Late Middle Ages : Hugh of St. Victor, the Abbot Suger, and Dante

Harry Berger

Published in print: 2015-03-02

This chapter begins by examining a passage from Hugh of St. Victor's discourse, On the Sacraments of the Christian Faith, which contains linguistic transfers as examples of extension or metonymy. Hugh confirms the transcendent source of his metonymies and justifies the need for an interpreter, and since God permits the practice of metonymy, the interpreter is only enabled but obliged to declare them. On another note, Abbot Suger combined his religious and political campaigns into one single project: the construction of the Abbey Church of St. Denis. Suger wrote about the construction and treated it as an integral part of the project. The chapter cites these writings and affirms that Suger supports his message by echoing scriptural and sacred authorities. The latter part focuses on Dante's questioning of the problematic relations between fiction and facticity in connection to theological tradition.